Signaling and indicating device for protecting the molds and mold liners of typesetting machines



June 23, 1931. A. J. MCLOUGHLIN 1,811,144

SIGNALING AND INDICATING DEVICE FOR PROTECTING THE MOLDS AND MODD LINERSOFK TYPESETTING MACHINES Filed May 31. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WTINESSES vI BY a i g 7 ATTORNEYS I June 23, 1931. MCLOUGHLIN 1,811,144

SIGNALING AND INDICATING DEVICE FOR PROTECTING THE MOLDS AND MOLD LINERSOF TYPESETTING MACHINES Filed May 31. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2lllllllllilllfl' INVENTOR HrZfiarI-M Zazg7zhn 2 WITNESSES ATTORNEYS June23, 1931. A. J. M LOUGHLIN 1,811,144

SIGNALING AND INDICATING DEVICE FOR PROTECTING THE HINES,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HOLDS AND MOLD LINERS OF TYPESETTING MAC Filed May 31.1929 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WITNESSES MZW Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR- J MC'LOUGHLIN, F COBONA, NEW' YORK, N. Y.

SIGNALIN G INDICATING DEVICE FOR PROTECTING THE MOLDS AND MOLD LINE-RSOF TYPESETTING MACHINES Application filed May 31,

K ators and machinists in preventing injury to U I the molds and moldliners.

Whenever it is necessary for the operator to change the size of themold, particularly as to the length of the line which is being cast, itis essential to change the ejector blade inorder to avoid injury to theliner. changing over the machine from one size to another, the operatoris required to make seven or eight different changes, including thechange in the mold liner or liners and the change in the ejector blade.It is, therefore, evident that not infrequently the operator fails tomake the corresponding change in the ejector blade, which results inbending or other injuries to the liner and to the mold or trimmingknives. Once a liner is hit by the ejector blade, itris practicallyworthless and necessitates the expense of replacement. However, theexpense of replacement is of minor importance as compared with theinconvenience, and sometimes the impossibil ity, of obtaining a newliner wltlnn a reasonable time for the completion of the work in hand.Also, in some instances, the operators or machinists attempt tostraighten a bent liner which has been hit, but this results in improperseating and, hence, imperfection in the slugs which are subsequentlycast, and involves the time and expense of scraping off or removing theoverhangor fin which develops. Furthermore, there is the possibility ofbreakage of the mold, which runs into an expense of several hundreddollars. It is, therefore, evident that each time a liner is hitconsiderable time and expense are involved, which the present inventionseeks to overcome.

Broadly, the invention contemplates an attachment' which functions toproduce a continuous signal whenever the mold turning pinion is pulledout to change a mold liner or to swing to another mold, which signalinforms the operator that the corresponding ejector blade must bechanged and which signal is discontinued by the operation of 1929.Serial in. 367,429.

changing the ejector blade, or, conversely, if the ejector blade ischanged first, the continuous signal is produced, which signal isdiscontinued when the mold disk pinion is pulled out to change the moldor mold liners.

Another reason why the aforementioned difficulties and troubles developlies in the fact that the marking-son the mold liners are indistinct,difficult to read and in time become so illegible that the proper sizeis often mistaken for a wrong one.

It is, therefore, a further object of the present invention to providean indicating device, by virtue of which the size of the mold linerbeing used is unmistakably displayed to avoid mistakes.

- ing and ejecting position is clearly indicated by the dial which isdisplayed. v 7 Among its other objects, the invention comprehends asignaling and indicating device of the character specified which iscomparatively simple in its construction and mode of operation,inexpensive to manufacture and install and which is thoroughly reliableand highly efficient in its purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which there isexhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claimsdefine the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings: 7 c

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of a typesetting machine equippedwith signaling and indicating, devices constructed in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the ejector blade selectingmechanism, illustrate lib ing the signal switch which cooperatestherewith.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view illustrating thearrangement of the signaling switches on the machine and the operatingconnection between the mold disk gear and the indicating device.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the location ofthe signal switch which is operated by movement of the mold disk pinion.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the signaling circuit, including theswitches.

Figure 6 is an enlarged front view of the indicating dial and itsoperating mechanism.

Figure 7 is a side view thereof.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view taken approximately on the lineindicated at 8 8 in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximatelyon the line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side View of the signal switch which works inconnection with an ejector blade selecting mechanism of a different formof typesetting machine.

in the drawings, A designates the mold disk of a typesetting machinewhich is provided with the usual mold bases B, mold caps C and constantand variable mold liners D and E. The mold disk is also provided withthe usual gear F which is mechanically driven through the medium of themold disk pinion shaft G when the mold disk pinion H is coupled to theshaft through the clutch pin I engaging in the mold disk pinion flangeJ. The manual turning of the mold disk is accomplished by means of aknob K carried by the pinion assemblage, so that when the knob is movedoutwardly the clutch pin is disengaged from the flange J, permitting theoperator to freely rotate the pinion H for turning the mold disk. In theform of typesetting machine with which the invention is illustrated, theejector blade selecting mechanism, which is designated generally by thereference character L, includes a locking lever M which must bedepressed to permit of the selection of the desired ejector blade, andin accordance with the present invention a switch 10 is installed atthis point which is provided with a movable switch arm 11 adapted to beselectively moved into contact with a pair of spaced contacts 12 and 13upon successive depressions of an actuating button 14 which is disposeddirectly under and adapted to be actuated by depressions of the lever M.The signal 15, which may be either of the visual or audible type, isinstalled on the typesetting machine at any desired point, and saidsignal is arranged in a circuit which includes a source of supply 16from which a conductor 17 leads through the signal 15, thence to theswitch arm 11. A second switch 18 is supported adjacent the mold diskpinion, and the switch 18 is provided with a switch arm 19 which isselectively moved into engagement with spaced contacts 20 and 21 bysuccessive depressions of the actuator button 22. The actuator button isdepressed by a lever 23 which is fulcrumed as at 2 1, and said lever isshifted by and with the mold disk pinion when the knob K is pulled outby the operator. The circuit includes a second conductor 25 which leadsto the switch arm 19 of the switch 18. The contacts 20 and 13 areconnected by a conductor 26, and the contacts 21 and 12 are connected bya conductor 27. It, therefore, follows that when the operator desires tochange the mold liner, the knob K is grasped and pulled out to manuallyturn the mold disk to the position for making the change. When the knobis pulled out to shift the mold disk pinion, the switch lever 23 ismoved into contact with the actuator button 22 of the switch 18.Assuming the circuit illustrated in Figure 5 to be in the open conditionshown, the depression of the actuator button 22 will cause the switcharm 19 to be moved from its engagement with contact 20 to a position inengagement with contact 21. This will close the signaling circuit andenergize the signal 15, due to the fact that the current will flow fromthe source of supply 16 through the conductor 25, through switch arm 19,contact 20, conductor 27, contact 12, switch arm 11 and back to thesource of supply through the conductor 17 which leads through the signal15. Ob *iously, the signal will remain energized and indicate to theoperator that the ejector blade should be changed. V hen the operatordepresses the locking lever M to permit of the changing of the ejectorblade, the downward movement of said lever M will depress the actuatorbutton 14 of the switch 10, thereby moving the switch arm 11 of theswitch 10 from its engagement with contact 12 to its engagement withcontact 13, thus breaking the circuit and deenergizing the signal. Onthe other hand, if the operator initially changes the ejector bladebefore changing the mold liner, the circuit will be closed originally bythe operation of the switch 10 and will be opened when the operatorpulls out on the knob K for the purpose of changing the mold liner. Itis, therefore, apparent that a signaling device has been devised, byvirtue of which the operator is warned against failing to change themold liners and ejector blades coincidently.

In order to render the signaling device applicable to other forms oftypesetting machines than that particularly illustrated in Figures 1 to4 of the drawings, there is shown in Figure 10 a different form ofejector blade selecting mechanism which includes a lever N having adetent O which cooperates with a rack P. In this instance, the switch 10is supported directly by the lever N and the actuator button 14 of theswitch 10 is d pressed by means of a lever 28 whichfis fulcrumed as at29 on the lever N and which lever 28 has a terminal 30 which is held outof engagement with the actuator button 14 by the weight of the leverhandle 28. TV hen the operator desires to manipulate tne lever N, hegrasps the detent O and the lever 28, thereby depressing the actuatorbutton 14 of the switch 10 for either making orbreaking the signalingcircuit, as the case may be. In

some instances, in older types of machines where the ejector blades arechanged by hand,it is proposed to provide at a point adjacent theejector blade, aswitch 10 which must be manually operated, todiscontinue the signal. Due to the fact that the operators hand isbrought so close to the ejector blade in cutting ofi the signal, it isobvious that his attention will be attracted to the ejector blade andwill prompt him to make the required change.

The indicating device by virtue of which the reading of the size of themold liners is greatly facilitated consistsof a rotary mem ber which ispreferably in the nature of an annulus having a central hub portion 36'and radial spokes 37. The annulus or rin and spokes support a pluralityof pairs of relatively rotatable dials 38 and 39 bearing respectivelyindicia 40 and 41. The member 35, together with its dials, is rotatablymounted on an arbor 42 which is supported by a bracket 43 directly in.rear of the assembling elevator Q of the machine and in such a mannerthat one pair of dials 40 and 41 is exposed to the view of the operator.In

practice, four pairs of dials are provided,

corresponding to the four molds on the mold disk, and the member 35 isoperatively con nected with the mold disk for turning movementcoincident therewith. This connection, as illustrated, consists of aring gear 44 carried by the member 35 which meshes with a gear 45journaled at 46 for rotation on the bracket 43. A pinion 47 meshes withthe gear 45 and-is connected by a flexible shaft 48 to a pinion 49 whichin turn meshes with the mold disk gear F. The pinion 49 is journaled forrotation in a shiftable bearing yoke 50 which is fulcrumed at 51 andwhich is normally urged in a direction to engage the teeth of the pinion49 with the teeth of the mold disk gear F by means of a spring. 52.

In practice, after the operator changes his mold and ejector andcontinues to complete the making of the necessary changes, he changesthe long finger. At this point, the

member 35 is near by and it requires but a few instants to rotate thepairs of dials 38 and 39 to bring the desired combination of indicia 40and 41 in a relation which indicates the size of the corresponding molddisk.

It thus follows that after the pairs of dials have been properly set,the operator will have in front of him means which indicates the molddisk which is up, whereby the: same may be readily compared with theindicator R which designates the ejector blade which is in operativeposition. A glance at the two indicating devices will inform theoperator as to whether the proper ejector blade is being used with themold which is up.

From the foregoing, it will, therefore, be apparent that a typesettingorlinotype machine which. .is equipped with the signaling and indicatingdevice in accordance with the invention, will practically eliminate thebreaking or bending of'moldliners or othe damage to the machine bysignaling or indi cating the operator to prevent, first, theirlarger-ting to change the e ector blade after changing the mold liner;second, by forget ting to change the mold liner after changi the ejectorblade; third, by swingin their mold disk to put another mold up' andforgetting to change the blade; fourth, by mistaking the size of theliner due to its being obliterated or tothe difiiculty of reading thesize on the mold liners.

lVhat is claimed is 1. An attachment for linotype machines includingmeans operable to produce a continuous signal by setting of the molddisk pinion for manipulation and means operable by manipulation of theejector blade changing mechanism for discontinuing said signal.

2. An attachment for linotype machines comprising means operable toproduce a continuous signal either by setting of the mold disk pinionfor manipulation or manipulation of the ejector blade changingmechanism.

3. An attachment for linotype machines comprising means operable toproduce a continuous signal either by setting of the mold disk pinionfor manipulation or manipulation of the ejector blade changing mechanismand means for discontinuing said signal.

4. An attachment for linotype machines comprising means operable toproduce a continuous signal either by setting of the mold disk pinionfor manipulation or manipulation of the ejector blade changing mechanismand means for discontinuing saidsignal located adjacent the mold diskpinion and the ejector blade changing mechanism respectively.

5. In a linotype machine including means shiftable to a position formanually turning the mold disk and manually shiftable means forselecting the ejector blades; signaling mechanism operable to render acontinuous signal by the initial shifting of one of said means andoperable to discontinue the signal upon the subsequent shifting of theother means. I i

6. In a linotypemachine including means shiftable to a position formanually turning the mold disk and manually shiftable means forselecting the ejector blades; signaling mechanism operable to render acontinuous signal by the initial shifting of one of said means andoperable to discontinue the signal upon the subsequent shifting of theother means, said signaling mechanism consisting of a circuit includinga signal adapted to be continuously operative when the circuit is closedand a pair of switches in said circuit operable upon successiveactuations to make and break the circuit.

7. In a linotype machine including means shiltable to a position topermit of manual turning of the mold disk and manually shiftable meansfor selecting the ejector blades; signaling mechanism consisting of acircuit including a signal adapted to be continuously operative when thecircuit is closed and a pair of switches located respectively adjacentsaid means and operable respectively by the successive shifting of saidmeans to close and open said circuit as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination with a linotype machine which include means shiftableto a position for permitting of the manual turning of the mold disk andmanually shiftable means for selecting the ejector blades, of asignaling circuit including a si nal adapted to be continuouslyoperative when the circuit is closed and a pair of two-way switcheslocated respectively adjacent said means and operable respectively bythe same for closing and opening the circuit upon successive operationsofsaid means.

9. A signaling attachment for linotype machines including a signal andmeans operable to render the signal active and inactive by thesuccessive setting of the mold disk pinion for manual turning and themanipulation of the ector blade changing mechanism.

10. An attachment for linotype machines including a signal, meansoperable to produce a continuous actuation of the signal either byperforming the operations of setting the mold disk pinion for manualturning or by manipulating the ejector blade changing means and meansoperable to discontinue the signal by subsequently performing the otheroperation.

11. An. attachment for linotype machines including a signal, meansoperable to produce a continuous actuation of the signal either byperforming the operation of setting the mold disk pinion for manualturning or by manipulating the ejector blade changing means, said meansoperable to discontinue the si nal by subsequently performing the otheroperation and a mold liner size indicator movable by and coincident withthe mold disk for selectively displaying the size of the mold which isup and a common manipulating means for actuating said signal andindicator.

12. A safety attachment for protecting the molds, mold liners andejector blades of linotype machines including amold liner size indicatormovable by and coincident with the mold disk for selectively displayingthe size of the mold which is up and a signal and means operable toproduce a continuous actuation of the signal either by performing theoperation of setting the mold disk pinion for manual turning or bymanipulating the ejector blade changing means, said means being operableto discontinue the signal by subsequently performing the other operationand a common manipulating means for actuating said indicator and forproducing or discontinuing the signal by performing the operation of thesetting of the mold disk pinion for manual turning.

13. The combination with a linotype machine, of an attachment thereforincluding a signal and means operable by the manual setting of the molddisk of the machine for rendering said signal continuously active.

14. The combination with a linotype machine, of an attachment thereforincluding a signal and means operable by the manual setting of the molddisk of the machine for rendering said signal continuously active andmeans for rendering said signal inactive.

15. The combination with a linotype ma chine, of an attachment thereforincluding a signal and means operable by the manual setting of the molddisk of the machine for rendering said signal continuously active andmeans located adjacent the ejector blade for rendering said signalinactive.

Signed at- New York in the county of New York and State of New York this28th day of May, A. D. 1929.

ARTHUR J. MOLOUGHLIN.

